You know how they say that ‘’what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’’? Well, we’re glad that famous pledge to remain tight-lipped is so rarely respected. Because if it was, we wouldn’t be able to share these tips with you, instead forced to keep all of our favourite finds in the City of Sin a secret.
And where’s the fun in that? Sharing is caring, after all, and we care deeply about you, dear reader. Rather than pointing you in the direction of the cliched, conspicuous places that define the Las Vegas strip, today we’re considering some of the more unique cocktail bars and experiences in the City of Sin.
With that spirit of sharing in mind, here are 5 of the coolest cocktail bars in Las Vegas.
The Golden Tiki
Sure, it might seem strange to be seeking escapism from your chosen holiday destination, but Vegas is that kind of place, and sometimes, you need to seek distraction from The Strip. You’ll find it at the Golden Tiki, which promises to transport you to a tropical paradise for the evening.
It’s a full throttle affair, make no mistake, with Hawaiian shirt-wearing mermaids working the room, toilet walls adorned with pirate’s treasure and piles of skulls, and more eccentric drinking vessels than you could shake a cocktail umbrella’s stick at.
Divided into four sections – Golden Tiki, Pirate’s Lair, Skull Island, and Diamond Falls – you’re bound to find something to suit your tastes, here.
Gold Spike
If you’re having little luck at the casino’s table games and roulette wheels, then you might find some more gentle, less high-stakes (in the best possible way) games at Gold Spike, one of Vegas’ hidden gems near Fremont Street.
Here, after the adult fun of the Vegas Strip, you can unleash your inner kid by playing the bar’s supersized Jenga, which towers above even your tallest friend, as well as their giant chess board and several other fun and interactive games.
At the more standard end of size spectrum, there’s also traditional darts and pool tables for those seeking a little respite from the pursuits that Las Vegas is famed for.
The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails, The Cosmopolitan
‘’One Old Fashioned, two Negronis, and a short-back-and-sides please, barkeep’’.
Where better in the world to enjoy a cocktail than in a casino resort which (poetic licence at the ready) was named after a cocktail; the Cosmopolitan. Even if you’re not a fan of the famous marriage of vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and lime, you’re sure to find something quaffable in one of the resort’s world-renowned bars.
Of the seven bars here, the pick of the bunch is perhaps The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails, which offers haircuts out front while out back, a prohibition-era hidden lounge serves up vintage whiskey to guests reclining in plush leather armchairs. Be sure to try the house special Golden Dram, containing White Label scotch and bitter orange; delicious! Or, if you’ve just won big, how about an Old Rip Van Winkle, aged for 25 years and available for a modest $25’000.
For a different vibe altogether, more glitzy and less underground, try The Chandelier; three levels of opulence which will have you thinking you’re in a particularly gauche art exhibition. Such surroundings combined with their signature drink, a nod to Alice In Wonderland aptly named ‘We’re All Mad Here’, and you’ll truly feel like you’re tripping. Mind the stairs on the way down!
Happy Hour At Linq’s High Roller
For another totally unique, completely cool cocktail experience in Vegas, you’ve got to try the ‘High Roller Happy Half Hour’. For thirty minutes (a full rotation of the wheel), you can ride the world’s tallest observation wheel, the LINQ’s High Roller on Las Vegas Boulevard, and enjoy the delights of an open bar at 500 feet (or 168 metres) high.
For a daytime ticket, you’ll have to put down $60. Considering you get a spectacular view of the city combined with free drinks mixed by your own personal bartender (each pod has one), we think it’s fair to say that you’re definitely getting your money’s worth.
Read: 8 must-do-things in Vegas for an unforgettable trip
Millennium Fandom Bar
‘’Just what are they putting in these drinks?’’ is an utterance many visitors to Millenium Fandom have made as they pass Darth Vader holding court, and several Squid Game guards and a random Marilyn Monroe hanging on his every word.
Nope, you’re not still tripping from that Alice In Wonderland cocktail you had earlier. Rather, you’re in Millenium Fandom Bar, where punters and staff alike dress up as their favourite sci-fi and fantasy characters and cosplay the night away!
Well, you did say you wanted escapism, right?
If you’re keen to celebrate the spirit of Vegas but from the comfort of your living room, check out these 9 cocktails that are super easy to make at home.